לְמַטֵּ֣ה בִנְיָמִ֔ן אֱלִידָ֖ד בֶּן־כִּסְלֽוֹן׃
Dari suku Benyamin, Elidad bin Kislon.
Midrash Tanchuma
(Numb. 11:16), “Gather Me seventy men [from the elders of Israel].” When the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “Gather Me seventy men,” Moses said, “How shall I manage to get [them] from all the tribes?48Numb. R. 15:19; Sifre to Numb. 11:24-26 (95). If I get five each from every tribe, they will not add up to the number seventy. There will [only] be sixty. And if we get six each from every tribe, they will add up to the number seventy-two. But if we get five from one tribe and six from another, I shall be imposing jealousy among the tribes.” What did Moses do? R. Judah says, “He took seventy pieces of paper49Petaqim; cf. Gk.: pittikia (“notes”). and wrote ‘elder’ on them. Then he took another (seventy) [two] blank pieces of paper, mixed them up, put them in an urn,50Gk.: kalpis. and said to them, ‘Come and take your pieces of paper.’ Whoever took a paper with ‘elder’ written on it knew that he had been appointed an elder. Whoever came up with a blank paper in his hand knew that he had not been appointed an elder.” R. Nehemiah said to him, “There would still have been a controversy, since [a loser] could have said to him, ‘Where is a paper with "elder" written on it? If it had been there, it would have come up in my hand.’” Therefore, how did he manage for them? R. Nehemiah said, “He took seventy-two pieces of paper and wrote ‘elder’ on them plus [seventy-]two other blank pieces of paper. Then he mixed them up and put them in the urn. He said to them, ‘Come and take your papers.’ If a paper with ‘elder’ written on it came up in [a person's] hand he knew that he had been appointed an elder, but if a blank one came up in his hand he knew that he had not been appointed. Then the officer-in-charge would say to him, ‘Look there is another paper there with “elder" written upon it. If you had been worthy of being appointed, [a paper with "elder"] would have come up in your hand.’” When [Moses had followed this procedure] the elders were appointed. Eldad and Medad were there, but they excluded themselves. They said, “We are not worthy to be in the number of the elders.” Now because they excluded themselves, they were found [to have become] superior to the elders in five respects. The elders only prophesied for the morrow as stated (in Numb. 11:18), “And you shall say to the people, ‘Purify yourselves for the morrow,’” but these men prophesied what was going to happen at the end of forty years as stated (in Numb. 11:26), “But two men had remained in the camp; [the name of the one was Eldad and the name of the other was Medad…; and they were…] prophesying in the camp.” But what were they prophesying? Some say [they were prophesying] about the downfall of Gog and Magog, while others say they were prophesying that Moses would die and Joshua would bring Israel into the Land. You yourself know that they so prophesied, since it is what Joshua told Moshe (in vs. 28), “Then Joshua ben Nun, Moses' attendant from his youth, answered.” And it is written (in vs. 27), “But a lad ran and told Moses.” And who was it? It was Moses' son, Gershom. The elders did not enter the land, but these did enter the land. Eldad is [so listed] (in Numb. 34:21) [as] Elidad ben Chislon. Medad is [so listed] (in Numb. 34:24) [as] Kemuel ben Shiphtan. The elders were not designated by their names, but these were designated by their names. The elders had their prophecy cease, but these did not have their prophecy cease. It is so stated (of the seventy in Numb. 11:25), “they prophesied but did not continue.” In the case of the elders, their prophecy was from what belonged to Moses, even as the Scripture has said (in Numb. 11:17), “and I will set aside some of the spirit which is upon you and put it on them”; but these [two] had their prophecy from that which belonged to the Holy One, blessed be He, as stated (in Numb. 11:26), “and the spirit rested upon them.”
Now if you say, “Since the elders had their prophecy from what belonged to Moses, might it not have lessened his prophecy somewhat?” [The answer is] no. To what may Moses be compared? To a lamp which was lit and51Sifre to Numb. 11:17 (93). everyone lights up from it; yet its light is in no way diminished. So also in the case of Moses. Although the prophets took of his prophecy, the prophecy of Moses was in no way diminished. [It is so stated] (in Deut. 34:10), “And never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses.”
Now if you say, “Since the elders had their prophecy from what belonged to Moses, might it not have lessened his prophecy somewhat?” [The answer is] no. To what may Moses be compared? To a lamp which was lit and51Sifre to Numb. 11:17 (93). everyone lights up from it; yet its light is in no way diminished. So also in the case of Moses. Although the prophets took of his prophecy, the prophecy of Moses was in no way diminished. [It is so stated] (in Deut. 34:10), “And never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses.”
Bamidbar Rabbah
Another matter, “Gather to Me seventy men” – when the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men” – Moses said: ‘What shall I do? If I bring five from each and every tribe, they will not total a sum of seventy, they will total sixty. If I bring six from this tribe and five from that tribe, I will introduce jealousy between one tribe and another.’ What did he do? He took seventy-two notes and wrote “elder” [on seventy of] them, and [took] an additional two blank notes, and mixed them in a receptacle. He said: ‘Come and take your note.’ One for whom a note on which “elder” was written entered his hand, would know that he was appointed to be an elder. If a blank entered his hand, he would know that he was not appointed. The appointee says to him: ‘There is one note there on which elder is written, had you been worthy to be appointed it would have entered your hand.’ When he did so, the elders were appointed.
Eldad and Meidad were there, and they excluded themselves: ‘We are not worthy to be included in the appointment of the elders.’ Because they excluded themselves, they were found superior to the elders in five respects. The elders prophesied only the next day, as it is stated: “To the people say: Prepare yourselves for tomorrow” (Numbers 11:18), but these prophesied regarding what will transpire at the end of forty years, as it is stated: “Two men remained in the camp, [one named Eldad and the other Medad…and they prophesied in the camp]” (Numbers 11:26). What were they prophesying? Some say: It was regarding the downfall of Gog. Some say: [That] Moses would die and Joshua would lead Israel into the Land. Know that Joshua says to Moses: “Joshua son of Nun spoke up…[my lord Moses, restrain them19From prophesying.]” (Numbers 11:28). “The lad ran and told Moses” (Numbers 11:27). Who was this? It was Gershom son of Moses. The elders did not enter the Land, but Eldad and Meidad [entered]. Eldad is Elidad son of Kislon (Numbers 34:21) and Meidad is Kemuel son of Shiftan (Numbers 34:24). The elders, their names were not articulated. The elders, their prophecy ceased, as it was from Moses, as it is stated: “I will draw from the spirit that is upon you” (Numbers 11:17). However, these, their prophetic spirit was from the Holy One blessed be He: “The spirit rested upon them” (Numbers 11:26).
If you say: The elders that their prophecy was from Moses, perhaps [as a consequence] there was something lacking from Moses’s prophecy. No. To what is the matter comparable? It is to a candle that was kindled. They kindled several candles from it, but the light of its flame was not diminished. Moses, too, had nothing lacking from his [prophecy], as it is stated: “There has not arisen another prophet in Israel like Moses” (Deuteronomy 34:10).
Eldad and Meidad were there, and they excluded themselves: ‘We are not worthy to be included in the appointment of the elders.’ Because they excluded themselves, they were found superior to the elders in five respects. The elders prophesied only the next day, as it is stated: “To the people say: Prepare yourselves for tomorrow” (Numbers 11:18), but these prophesied regarding what will transpire at the end of forty years, as it is stated: “Two men remained in the camp, [one named Eldad and the other Medad…and they prophesied in the camp]” (Numbers 11:26). What were they prophesying? Some say: It was regarding the downfall of Gog. Some say: [That] Moses would die and Joshua would lead Israel into the Land. Know that Joshua says to Moses: “Joshua son of Nun spoke up…[my lord Moses, restrain them19From prophesying.]” (Numbers 11:28). “The lad ran and told Moses” (Numbers 11:27). Who was this? It was Gershom son of Moses. The elders did not enter the Land, but Eldad and Meidad [entered]. Eldad is Elidad son of Kislon (Numbers 34:21) and Meidad is Kemuel son of Shiftan (Numbers 34:24). The elders, their names were not articulated. The elders, their prophecy ceased, as it was from Moses, as it is stated: “I will draw from the spirit that is upon you” (Numbers 11:17). However, these, their prophetic spirit was from the Holy One blessed be He: “The spirit rested upon them” (Numbers 11:26).
If you say: The elders that their prophecy was from Moses, perhaps [as a consequence] there was something lacking from Moses’s prophecy. No. To what is the matter comparable? It is to a candle that was kindled. They kindled several candles from it, but the light of its flame was not diminished. Moses, too, had nothing lacking from his [prophecy], as it is stated: “There has not arisen another prophet in Israel like Moses” (Deuteronomy 34:10).
Bamidbar Rabbah
“They turned and ascended via the Bashan, and Og king of Bashan emerged against them, he and his entire people, to the battle at Edre’i” (Numbers 21:33).
“They turned [vayifnu] and ascended” – some say that they waged the war with Siḥon in Elul. They performed the festival [of Sukkot] in Tishrei, and the war with Og was after the festival, just as it says: “You shall turn [ufanita] in the morning and go to your tents” (Deuteronomy 16:7).
“Og king of Bashan emerged” – as the Holy One blessed be He assembled them [the army of Og] before them to deliver them into their hand.
“The Lord said to Moses: Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, him and his entire people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Siḥon king of the Emorites, who resides in Ḥeshbon” (Numbers 21:34).
“The Lord said to Moses: Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand” – this is what the verse said: “Happy is a person who is always afraid” (Proverbs 28:14). That is the attribute of the righteous; even though the Holy One blessed be He promises them, they do not divest themselves of fear. Likewise with Jacob: “Jacob was afraid” (Genesis 32:8) – why was he afraid? He said: ‘Perhaps I was sullied with something while at Laban’s, and it is written: “He shall not see a shameful matter in you, and turn from behind you” (Deuteronomy 23:15) – and the Holy One blessed be He would have forsaken me.’ Moses, too, like his patriarch, grasped fear. Why was he afraid? He said: ‘Perhaps Israel committed a trespass in the war with Siḥon, or were sullied with transgression.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “Do not fear” – they all completed their acquisitions justly.
“Do not fear him” – as no mighty warrior had stood in the world who was tougher than he, as it is stated: “As only Og king of the Bashan remained from the rest of the Refaim” (Deuteronomy 3:11). He remained from the mighty warriors killed by Amrafel and his allies, as it is stated: “They smote the Refaim at Ashterot Karnayim” (Genesis 14:5), and this is their remnant, like olives that remain among the pomace, as it is stated: “The survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew; and he was dwelling on the plains of Mamre the Emorite, brother of Eshkol and brother of Aner, and they were allies of Abram” (Genesis 14:13) – this is Og, and it depicts him as a remnant, as it is stated: “From the rest of the Refaim.” His intention was that Abram go out and be killed. The Holy One blessed be He granted him the reward of his legs,82The reward for his effort to come and report to Abram what had befallen Lot. and he lived all those years. But He collected from him, as he fell by the hand of his descendants. When Moses came to wage war with him, he feared him. He said: ‘I am one hundred and twenty years old, and this one is more than five hundred. If he did not have merit, he would not have lived all these years.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand” – kill him by your hand.
“You shall do to him as you did to Siḥon…” – “We destroyed [vanaḥarem]83The term ḥerem can mean destroyed or proscribed. them, [as we did to Siḥon]” (Deuteronomy 3:6). But is it not written: “But all the animals, and the spoils of the cities, we looted for ourselves” (Deuteronomy 3:7)? It is, rather, that they proscribed [heḥerimu] the corpses, to derive no benefit from them.
“They smote him, his sons [banav], [and his entire people]” (Numbers 21:35) – “his son [beno]” is written,84In our version of the Bible banav is written (see Minḥat Shai, Bemidbar 21:35). as he had a son tougher than he was. The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘In this world, you eradicate the nations a little at a time, but in the future, I will eliminate them all at once,’ as it is stated: “Nations will be burnings of lime, cut thorns ignited with fire” (Isaiah 33:12).
“They turned [vayifnu] and ascended” – some say that they waged the war with Siḥon in Elul. They performed the festival [of Sukkot] in Tishrei, and the war with Og was after the festival, just as it says: “You shall turn [ufanita] in the morning and go to your tents” (Deuteronomy 16:7).
“Og king of Bashan emerged” – as the Holy One blessed be He assembled them [the army of Og] before them to deliver them into their hand.
“The Lord said to Moses: Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, him and his entire people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Siḥon king of the Emorites, who resides in Ḥeshbon” (Numbers 21:34).
“The Lord said to Moses: Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand” – this is what the verse said: “Happy is a person who is always afraid” (Proverbs 28:14). That is the attribute of the righteous; even though the Holy One blessed be He promises them, they do not divest themselves of fear. Likewise with Jacob: “Jacob was afraid” (Genesis 32:8) – why was he afraid? He said: ‘Perhaps I was sullied with something while at Laban’s, and it is written: “He shall not see a shameful matter in you, and turn from behind you” (Deuteronomy 23:15) – and the Holy One blessed be He would have forsaken me.’ Moses, too, like his patriarch, grasped fear. Why was he afraid? He said: ‘Perhaps Israel committed a trespass in the war with Siḥon, or were sullied with transgression.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “Do not fear” – they all completed their acquisitions justly.
“Do not fear him” – as no mighty warrior had stood in the world who was tougher than he, as it is stated: “As only Og king of the Bashan remained from the rest of the Refaim” (Deuteronomy 3:11). He remained from the mighty warriors killed by Amrafel and his allies, as it is stated: “They smote the Refaim at Ashterot Karnayim” (Genesis 14:5), and this is their remnant, like olives that remain among the pomace, as it is stated: “The survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew; and he was dwelling on the plains of Mamre the Emorite, brother of Eshkol and brother of Aner, and they were allies of Abram” (Genesis 14:13) – this is Og, and it depicts him as a remnant, as it is stated: “From the rest of the Refaim.” His intention was that Abram go out and be killed. The Holy One blessed be He granted him the reward of his legs,82The reward for his effort to come and report to Abram what had befallen Lot. and he lived all those years. But He collected from him, as he fell by the hand of his descendants. When Moses came to wage war with him, he feared him. He said: ‘I am one hundred and twenty years old, and this one is more than five hundred. If he did not have merit, he would not have lived all these years.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand” – kill him by your hand.
“You shall do to him as you did to Siḥon…” – “We destroyed [vanaḥarem]83The term ḥerem can mean destroyed or proscribed. them, [as we did to Siḥon]” (Deuteronomy 3:6). But is it not written: “But all the animals, and the spoils of the cities, we looted for ourselves” (Deuteronomy 3:7)? It is, rather, that they proscribed [heḥerimu] the corpses, to derive no benefit from them.
“They smote him, his sons [banav], [and his entire people]” (Numbers 21:35) – “his son [beno]” is written,84In our version of the Bible banav is written (see Minḥat Shai, Bemidbar 21:35). as he had a son tougher than he was. The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘In this world, you eradicate the nations a little at a time, but in the future, I will eliminate them all at once,’ as it is stated: “Nations will be burnings of lime, cut thorns ignited with fire” (Isaiah 33:12).